Botti's passion fuels success at Decatur

"I always tell my kids that I would play baseball until they tell me I can't play anymore."

Unfortunately for Botti his playing days were short lived.

"I was good enough to play in high school," said Botti, an Eaton Rapids graduate. "But my boys are significantly better players than I was."

Having just finished his 18th year as Decatur baseball coach, Botti's love of the game rubs off on the players he coaches.

It shows in the Raiders' success on the field. During Botti's tenure, Decatur has posted a 378-180 record, won 11 conference titles, nine district championships, six regional crowns and, this spring, captured its fourth state title.

So it's easy to see why Botti was named the Tribune's Male Coach of the Year.

Berrien Springs coach John Donley, who will be inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Monday, has great respect for Botti.

"Ben works really hard and puts in a lot of time," Donley said. "And all of the times that we've played them or I've watched them play, you can tell his kids like playing for him. They respect him. He's a competitor, but he's also a class act, win or lose."

Botti is also humble. When told of the honor, the first thing Botti wanted to do was share the success with assistant coach Jeff Kawaski.

Kawaski, now the school's principal and athletic director, was the head coach before Botti took over. He has been the team's pitching coach during most of Botti's tenure. And Kawaski also played a significant role in this year's success -- he started summer travel teams when many of this year's players were 9.

"Jeff and other parents did a lot for their kids," Botti said. "They did a great job of teaching their kids how to play. When we got them , we just had to take it to another level.

"Jeff has always been a key factor in our success. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know one thing about pitching. Jeff handles the pitching and I just have to figure out a way to score a couple of runs a game."

"Our goal when we started the summer travel teams was to win a state championship," Kawaski said.

And all that work paid off this season. Decatur finished 36-6. Only the great River Valley teams of the mid-1990s have more single-season area wins with 40 in 1997 and 39 in both 1994 and 1995.

"You always wonder if a team is capable of going all the way," Botti said. "We never wondered this year about the talent. That was never a question. We just wondered mentally if we were tough enough. There were a couple of times during the tournament where that question was answered positively."

Botti also had to change a little bit of his approach because of the new national high school rules on bats adopted this year.

"The new bats react a lot more like wood," Botti said. "I've never been a big fan of the bunt. I was raised a Detroit Tiger fan and on the American League game so I've always hated to give away outs. But with the way things are with these bats, you have to do more bunting and hitting and running because we only hit two home runs as a team."

This was a special team for Botti and Kawaski for another reason. Both had two sons on this year's club. Kawaski's son J.T. and Botti's son Stephen were two of the Raiders' big three on the mound. Both were seniors, who manned the corner infield spots when they didn't pitch.

Kawaski's other son, Joby, was the center fielder and Botti's other son, Matthew, was the second baseman. Both are freshmen.

"I had pictures every year of the previous titles we won," Kawaski said. "And each year my kids were standing next to me holding the trophy. I always thought how awesome it would be to win it with both kids on the team and holding that trophy."

"Those boys have been playing together for what seems like forever," Botti said. "Having two sons on a state championship team is pretty amazing."

Decatur graduates four starting seniors, including three All-Staters, J.T. Kawaski, Stephen Botti and Theodore Rufo. But the cupboard won't be bare.

"Without a question losing three All-Staters is going to hurt," Botti said. "But we have some young guys who will contribute a whole lot more next year, especially on the mound."

And with Botti's energy and passion for the game of baseball, nothing would surprise.